Works Volvo driver Jim Richards won two races out of three at Oran Park yesterday to close to within 12 points of BOC Gases Australian Super Touring Car Championship leader Paul Morris.

Richards' win sets up last round showdown

Works Volvo driver Jim Richards won two races out of three at Oran Park yesterday to close to within 12 points of BOC Gases Australian Super Touring Car Championship leader Paul Morris.

Richards top-scored with 43 points in the seventh and penultimate championship round with two wins and a second place in his front-drive Volvo S40, boosting his series tally to 216.

Morris earned 39 points on the 2.6km Oran Park circuit with a win and two second placings in his ex-works NEMO Racing BMW 320.

The 31-year-old dual Super Touring champion will go into the eighth and final round at Calder Park in Melbourne on August 29 leading with 228 points.

Defending champion Brad Jones is now out of contention for the title. He scored 22 points at Oran Park in his front-drive Audi Sport Australia A4, improving his championship tally to 158. However the score is insufficient for Jones to be in a position to deprive either Morris or Richards of the title, regardless of results at Calder Park.

Morris won yesterday's opening 12-lap race after leading from start to finish. Richards, who was second throughout, finished 0.26 sec. behind the BMW, followed by Jones's Victorian team-mate Matthew Coleman, and NSW's Mark Adderton in the second Volvo S40.

Jones and Independents Cup driver Jim Cornish, in a Nissan Primera, received "drive-through" penalties for moving forward off the start line earlier than allowed.

Canberra's Mark Zonneveld was disqualified after Race Director Peter Wollerman found him guilty of failing to exercise proper care when his Peugeot 405 collided with the Ford Mondeo of Aaron McGill.

In the second race over 16 laps Morris made a poor start from pole position, and Richards charged to a comfortable lead. Morris, who was fourth after the opening lap, improved to second, but never threatened Richards, who finished 10.56 sec. clear of Morris, with Adderton third, Jones fourth, and Coleman fifth.

The third race over 23 laps included a compulsory pit-stop to change two wheels. Morris led the opening 10 laps before he and Richards made their pit-stops. Richards was first out of the pits, but Morris reclaimed first position soon after they resumed racing.

Two laps later Richards passed Morris and took the lead. The Volvo driver eventually finished 6.10 sec. ahead of Morris, who was followed by Jones and Adderton.

Richards's results left Volvo leading the Manufacturers Championship with 249 points from Audi on 225.

Sydney's Peter Hills was the top Independents Cup driver with a fifth and two sixth placings in his Ford Mondeo. He leads the Independents Cup with 248 points, followed by team-mate Dean Canto on 140, and Anthony Robson in a Honda Accord on 128.